Great trip , especially in the spring :)) , too much snow , klettersteig not usable ( do not try it without rope ) , it took us quite a few hours , we got to the summit after midnight :) , but we had great view even at this time , especially lights along Eibsee , no avalanches just few rocks

Crossing the lovely alpine style fields below the face up to the Hoellental hut, the clouds brewed a cruel brew and by the time I'd reached the canyons heavy rain was pouring. Sheltering in the caves the floor soon turned to a heavy stream and I was a happy but wet man who reached Hoellental.

A comfortable night and early start up the dramatic north face. Good fun climbing the kleigensteig (is that how you say it) and glad to have an axe on the later stages of the snow slopes. Avalanches dropped off the face to the eastern slopes and a silly move going direct to the summit cross caught me in a minor slab avalanche (very minor).

Despite what my Munich friends had said, the Zugspitze is a wonderul mountain, only spoilt by the cable car periphenalia on the summit.

Passing the dramatic "Warning: Danger of Death" sign, crossed the ridge and descended to Austria on an even steeper "via ferreta" to the hut on the west face. Beautiful views and the next morning descended to Eibsee and the fenicular back to Garmisch (along with Japanese tourists taking photos of anything that moved or didn't)!

Did the (nice) Hoellental Ferrata as approach to the 'Jubilaeums Ridge'. 1999 I ran the 'Zugspitz Lauf' all the Reintal up to the 'Zugspitz Platt'. Don't search for my finishing time - but what the ...: I did it ;-) Next time I will not be at a wedding the night before. Also I have bought runner's leggings now...

Make sure to approach the Zugspitze from the Austrian side. It is less crowded- I only met 4 other people on the way up.( you will meet at least 100 on the bavarien side!!!). For German proportions you will find a great view of the central Alps and can also whitness the phenomena that it is very often bad weather in Italy while ths sun is out on the north side of the Alps. Change of alt. from Ehrwald to the top is about 1800 meters. You start at the cablecar( Ehrwalder Zugspitzbahn)It is supposed to take 6 Hours to the top but if it takes you more than 4 you should see your doc if there is anything wrong with you.

Above the Wiener/Neust.(closed in wintertime) hut you will find a lot of iron in the rock.

be prepared to a very special summit experience once you get to the top. There you will find some noisy resturants and a complex german engeneered building( good Quality!)and a lot of japanese tourists that look at you in disbelive...